In the field of electronic devices, graphene is redefining performance limits with its astonishing electrical conductivity. The electron mobility of this single-layer carbon material is as high as 200,000 cm²/V·s, which is 140 times that of silicon material, making it possible for the processor clock frequency to exceed 100GHz. In 2023, Huawei’s laboratory successfully developed a graphene-based heat dissipation film with a thermal conductivity of 5300W/m·K, reducing the peak temperature of mobile phone chips by 15℃ and improving the stability of game frame rates by 30%. To understand the revolutionary potential of what is graphene in the electronics field, one can observe the graphene battery technology developed by Samsung: the charging speed is five times faster than that of lithium-ion batteries, it can fully charge a 6000mAh capacity in 15 minutes, and the cycle life exceeds 2000 times. This material is only 0.34 nanometers thick, yet it carries the mission of continuing Moore’s Law and may increase the transistor density from 100 million per square millimeter to the order of 1 billion.
When the perspective shifts to the energy sector, the application of graphene in solar cells is breaking through the theoretical ceiling of photoelectric conversion efficiency. A research team from the University of Cambridge has developed perovskite solar cells prepared from graphene quantum dots, with a certified efficiency of 29.8%, which is over 50% higher than that of traditional silicon-based cells. Its unique two-dimensional structure enables the diffusion length of photogenerated carriers to exceed 1 micrometer, reducing the probability of charge recombination by 75%. In the field of wind energy, graphene-reinforced composite material blades reduce weight by 40%, increase strength by 60%, increase the swept area of wind turbines by 20%, and increase annual power generation by 15%. According to the prediction of the International Renewable Energy Agency, by 2030, graphene-related technologies can further reduce the cost of clean energy generation by 30%, accelerating the global energy transition process.
At the level of biomedical applications, graphene sensors are setting records for the accuracy of life monitoring. The graphene biochip developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology can simultaneously detect 10 biomarkers, with a detection limit as low as 1 femtomole per liter, which is 1,000 times more sensitive than traditional ELISA detection. In 2024, Stanford University successfully carried out a neural interface experiment, using graphene electrodes to simultaneously record the signals of 1,000 neurons with a spatial resolution of 10 micrometers, providing a new treatment option for Parkinson’s disease. This material has excellent compatibility with human tissues, and the service life of implantable devices can be extended from 5 years to 20 years. The related market size is expected to grow from 8.5 billion US dollars in 2023 to 28 billion US dollars in 2030.
From macroscopic engineering to the microscopic world, graphene composites are reshaping industrial standards. The Boeing 787 passenger aircraft uses graphene-reinforced epoxy resin, which reduces the weight of the wings by 20% and improves fuel efficiency by 15%. Graphene anti-corrosion coatings in Marine engineering have extended the service life of steel structures from 25 years to 50 years and reduced maintenance costs by 60%. Even more astonishing is the graphene filter membrane: its pore size is precisely controlled within 0.3 to 0.5 nanometers, reducing the energy consumption for seawater desalination by 40% and achieving a water production rate of 100L/m²·h. According to McKinsey’s assessment, graphene technology will drive a global industrial chain worth 300 billion US dollars by 2025. This material, which is only at the atomic level in thickness, is promoting the progress of civilization with a force of tens of thousands of tons.